This year’s been a real scream.
From earthquakes to Moo Deng to mob wives, oh my!
And as a nod to the frighteningly funny, most hair-raising moments of 2024, why not relive the mess with pop culture-inspired costumes this Halloween?
Little devils with lust for the hilarious should have no trouble cherry-picking cheeky ideas from the many trending topics we’ve all hated to love.
Be it jaw-dropping celeb drama, high jinx at the Olympics or — arguably the most haunting of them all — creepy shade tossed during the presidential campaign, naughty news buffs can really wow on trick-or-treating’s biggest night.
Here are a few scary cool costumes RIP’d straight from the headlines.
Paris Olympics Games
Australian break dancer Rachel “Raygun” Gunn nearly broke the internet with her dreadful jig this summer. Dressed in hunter green b-boy garb, the 37-year-old awkwardly rolled, hopped and gyrated around the stage while vying for the Olympic gold medal in July.
And while she looked funny doing it, the Down Under dancer’s look is sure to take home the trophy as “funniest fit” this Hallows’ Eve.
However, just as likely to turn heads are getups donned in honor of gymnast Stephen “Pommel Horse Guy” Nedoroscik, 25 — who secured the bronze medal for team USA with his twisty talents — and Simone Biles, 27, the world’s most decorated Olympic gold medalist. The petite powerhouse added four new awards to her collection this summer.
Justin Timberlake’s mugshot
Judging by the constant silliness on social media, it might be fair to say that our society is locked into arrested development.
That ugly truth was made evident when Justin Timberlake’s mugshot went viral following his DWI arrest in June. Jokesters online raved over the “Cry Me A River” crooner’s crisp close-up taken by the Sag Harbor Police Department in Long Island — where Timberlake, 43, was busted for allegedly drunk driving after a downing a martini (or two).
His sudsy charges aside, fans of the *NSYNC alum spent weeks trying to recreate the sharpness, lighting and quality of the trending shot for their own selfies. And now, fright-night fanatics can, too.
Sad Ben Affleck
Clutch your ice coffees and light a cigarette — it’s the “Affleck” effect.
With the frowning face of a spook, and the business casual clothes of an intern, Halloween fiends can copy the sour swag of a newly single Ben Affleck, 52, this holiday.
The “Gone Girl” star’s droopy look became signature as his short-lived marriage to Jennifer Lopez, 55, hit the skids this summer. She filed for divorce in August.
But his tough break isn’t all bad — not for the kidders who can’t wait to mimic his misery, at least.
Mets icon Grimace
His milkshake doesn’t just bring all the boys to the yard — it’s bringing good luck to Mets, too.
So, in reverence of the McDonald’s mascot with monstrous range, get googly-eyed as Grimace this grim’s day. The purple symbol of sweet treats first secured the hearts (and tastebuds) of foodies in summer 2023, when Mickey D’s rolled out a berry-favored beverage in his honor.
But ever since he tossed a stellar first pitch during a Mets’ game this June, breaking the team’s bad luck streak, Grimace has been hailed an icon by baseball buffs across NYC.
It’s “ba dah ba ba ba”-badass.
Moo Deng
Steal the night as Moo Deng, the lovably cranky hippo who’s virtually stolen our hearts. Doll up like the pigmy diva with pink powders to replicate her rosy cheeks and dewy creams to match her natural glow.
Oh, and party animals hoping to truly nail the wild thing’s vibe should also pretend to nip at a few kneecaps.
Childless cat lady
For folks offended by the “childless cat lady” controversy, this is the purr-fect ‘fit.
To proverbially kick kitty litter into the eyes of anyone looking down on single, kid-free women, why not rock a frock that spotlights the lifestyle with pride?
It’s sure to terrify the trolls.
RFK and the bear
Want to get really grisly? Dress up like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his little grizzly.
In August, the wannabe president’s bone-chilling admission to dumping a dead bear in Central Park 10 years ago made eyes bulge in frightened disbelief.
So, frocking up like the political nepo baby and his baby cub is sure to freak out even the toughest trick-or-treaters this year.
Brat summer
NYC has its rat czar — so be its “Brat” star.
Crawl through the streets like vermin in “trashy” fashion for this unholy occasion.
The “brat” aesthetic, popularized by British pop star Charli XCX this summer, is rooted in recklessly risqué revelry. Think unwashed hair, immodest gear, wild tattoos and scary-high levels of self-confidence.
Slay the NSFW style, and your friends will be acid-green with envy.
Tri-state earthquake
Shake things up this spooky season by quaking around town as the 4.8 magnitude force that rocked New York and its neighboring states in April.
While most folks can laugh about it now, the uncanny earthquake, a rarity to us east coasters, sent shockwaves through residents of the Big Apple, Long Island, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania.
So, it seems fitting to re-spook locals with similar seismic activity on the big night, right?
Mob Wives fashion
The bride of Frankenstein won’t be the only missus slaying the scene this Halloween.
Pulling out the big guns are the glamor girls of the “mob wives fashion” trend, a movement made fab by the freakishly flashy.
Fur coats, animal prints, high heels and a hubby with Tony Soprano’s style complete the look.
But wannabes, beware!
If you wear the wrong regalia, you might find yourself sleeping with the fishes.
Stanley Cup girlies
Let your cups runneth over with junk á la the viral “Stanley Cup girlies.”
In commemoration of this month’s creepy celebration, come dressed as one of those expensive, highly-embellished 40 oz. Stanley Cup tumblers. The overpacked portables have taken social media by storm this fall, all thanks to look-at-me gals on TikTok, and were even spoofed by “Saturday Night Live.”
Skibidi toilet
It’s creepy and it’s kooky. Mysterious and spooky. It’s altogether ooky — Gen Alpha’s vocabulary.
And one of the worst terms in their kiddie dictionary is “Skibidi toilet.”
A buzzword to digital natives under age 10, Skibidi toilet is a popular 72-part YouTube series, which features a human head popping out of a porcelain throne and singing songs riddled with youngster slang.
The show’s potty humor is centered around a war between the human-headed toilets and humanoids with security cameras for heads.
